Why do my eyes feel so dry, now I'm pregnant?

It’s common to have dry eyes, or dry-eye syndrome, in pregnancy. It's caused by hormonal changes.

Your eyes are dry because of a change in the amount, or type, of tears you produce, meaning your eyes aren't kept moist enough. Dry-eye syndrome can affect you more in second, or subsequent pregnancies.

Having dry eyes is a nuisance and can be uncomfortable, but it's generally harmless. You may have:

You may not be able to wear your usual eye make-up because your eyes are sensitive, or because you want to rub them more often.

If you usually wear contact lenses, you may struggle to keep them in place, or find them uncomfortable. You could swap to glasses during your pregnancy.

Your eyes may also be dry if you're dehydrated, which can happen if you're vomiting because of morning sickness. Drink plenty of water to replace lost fluids. Tell your midwife if you struggle to keep food and drink down every day, as you may have a severe type of nausea called hyperemesis gravidarum.

Dry-eye syndrome can be treated with artificial tears or ointments. Check with your doctor or pharmacist about the best treatments. Some over-the-counter products may not be suitable for you while you’re pregnant.

You can also try these self-help tips:

Don’t stare for long periods at a screen. This affects how often you blink, and can dry your eyes out. Take plenty of breaks, and make sure that your screen is at or below eye level.

Create a more humid atmosphere at work or at home. Have plants on your desk or around your home, and keep them watered. Use a desktop humidifier or a mist sprayer to hydrate the air around you.

Massage your eyelids by gently rolling a clean fingertip over them. This will encourage tears to be pushed out of the glands in your eyelids.

Help your eyes stay clean and free of grit by gently dabbing your upper and lower eyelids with cotton pads soaked in warm water. Start in the corner of your eyes and work outwards.

It's thought that including omega-3 fats in your diet can ease dry-eye syndrome. You can get omega-3 from oily fish, such as mackerel, salmon and sardines. Try to have two portions of oily fish a week. You can also get omega-3 fats from nuts and seeds, in particular, walnuts and flaxseeds.

If you have pain, light sensitivity or deteriorating vision, see your GP or an optometrist. They can check that your eyes are healthy, and that there’s no scarring or infection.

Rarely, more serious eye problems can happen, caused by damage to the cornea, the transparent layer over your eye. If the damage goes untreated, your eyesight could be permanently affected, so it's important to get help quickly.

Normal dry-eye syndrome is an annoying pregnancy side-effect, but it will go away once your baby is born.

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